TARTA resumes Muddy Shuttles for 2014 season

TARTA will resume its Muddy Shuttle service for the 2014 baseball season beginning with the Toledo Mud Hens home opener April 4.

Opening Day for the Mud Hens may be the biggest party of the year in Toledo but it could be even bigger this year with the doubleheader Downtown. The Mud Hens home opener begins at 4 p.m. followed by a Toledo Walleye hockey game beginning at 7:15 p.m. at the nearby Huntington Center.

TARTA’s Muddy Shuttles will take fans to and from Mud Hens games from nine Park ‘N Ride locations around the area. Photo Courtesy TARTA

TARTA will be providing shuttle service to both the Mud Hens home opener and the Walleye hockey game, said Steve Atkinson, director of marketing for TARTA. He said it may be a bit tricky but the shuttles will deliver fans to both games and pick them up after each game as usual.

TARTA shuttles will pick up baseball fans for the home opener at 3 p.m. from its regular nine locations and hockey fans for the Walleye game at 6 p.m. at six of those nine locations, Atkinson said. He advised people to check TARTA’s website for the locations for each shuttle service.

“The Muddy Shuttle is one of TARTA’s favorite services of the community. We get consistent, positive feedback from fans about the Muddy Shuttle because it’s affordable, convenient, safe, and part of the game experience at Fifth Third Field for people who use it,” Atkinson said.

TARTA buses have transported just over 14,000 fans Downtown to Mud Hens games at Fifth Third Field during each of the past two seasons.

“It appeals to a wider audience as another opportunity for people to ride the bus for recreational reasons rather than to work or school,” he said, referring to TARTA’s game shuttle service and the Music Under the Stars series at the Toledo Zoo.

The fare for the Muddy Shuttle is $1 per person each way, payable at the Park-N-Ride locations before and after the games. Children younger than age 6 ride free with a limit of two children per paid adult. No game ticket is required to ride the shuttles. Reduced fares are available for seniors and disabled persons.

Fans can use their monthly TARTA pass, which costs $40 per month for unlimited trips, to ride the Muddy Shuttles, Atkinson said.

TARTA’s Muddy Shuttle buses leave one hour before each scheduled game time from the nine Park-N-Ride locations and depart Fifth Third Field from Washington Street 20 minutes after the conclusion of each game. When there are fireworks or other post-game activities, the buses leave 20 minutes after conclusion of the scheduled feature.

The Muddy Shuttles will operate from the following locations in 2014:

In Maumee, from St. Luke’s Hospital on Monclova Road and the north lot of the Lucas County Recreation Center on Key Street.

In Rossford, from All Saints Catholic Church parking lot on Lime City Road.

In Sylvania, from the Centennial Terrace main parking lot on Centennial Road.

In Toledo from four locations including the Meijer store parking lot on Alexis Road; Franklin Park Mall from shelters on Royer Road; Miracle Mile Shopping Center near the shelter; and behind Fifth Third Bank at Southland Shopping Center on Glendale Avenue.

In Waterville, from the Kroger store parking lot on Waterville-Swanton Road.

There is no longer Muddy Shuttle service from the former location near Sears in Westgate or from the City of Perrysburg since it ended TARTA bus service.

For more information, call TARTA at (419) 243-7433 or visit www.tarta.com.